SHIZUOKA, Japan (AP) — Wenyi Ding capped a marathon Sunday with a 3-under 67 that lifted the 19-year-old from China to a one-shot win in the Asia-Pacific Amateur and earned him an invitation to the Masters and the British Open next year.

The majors may have to wait. Golf Digest reported that Ding plans to join the European tour via the new ‘Global Amateur Pathway’. The Masters and British Open typically require players to remain amateurs to take advantage of such exemptions.

Ding, the freshman of the year at Arizona State last season, had to play 14 holes to complete a total of 67, putting him into a tie for the 54-hole lead with Ziqin Zhou of China. He took the lead in the final round when Zhou bogeyed the second hole and Ding birdied the third, and there was plenty of drama at the end.

Zhou, an 18-year-old who plays for the California Golden Bears, birdied the 18th for a 68 to tie for the lead. Ding regained the lead with his final birdie at the 17th, a 239-yard par 3, where he hit his tee shot to six feet.

On the par-5 closing hole at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba, Ding found a bunker off the tee, laid down and hit his third to the back of the green. He walked his putt about four feet past the hole and made the par putt for the win.

Ding, a former U.S. Junior Amateur champion and the highest-ranked amateur in the field at No. 5, finished at 12-under 268 and atoned for a playoff loss in the Asia-Pacific Amateur last year at Royal Melbourne.

“It feels very good,” says Ding. “Last year I lost in the play-offs and I felt like I couldn’t play any better. And this year I got the trophy. It’s great.”

He becomes the fifth player from China to win in the 15 years of the Asia-Pacific Amateur.

Ding chose not to return to Arizona State for his sophomore year because the Global Amateur Pathway is for the leading player from the top 20 of the world amateur rankings who does not compete in college.

Ding told Golf Digest that the decision is difficult, but that it is more than likely that he will take a European tour card and could turn pro as soon as next week.

“I still want to play the Masters and Open if I can. I’ll try to make it later,” he said.

Ding already played the 2023 US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club after winning the US Junior Amateur at Bandon Dunes last year.

The Asia-Pacific Amateur was forced to go to a long Sunday because of heavy rain Friday in the foothills of Mount Fuji, along with fog, which suspended competition.

Zhou took over a share of the 54-hole lead with a 65 in the third round.

“I am happy with the performance all week,” said Zhou. “I didn’t make a big mistake. I hit every tee shot well. I probably missed a few, but I only managed six bogeys in four days on this course. I’m very happy for him. The trophy is now back for Team China.”

Rintaro Nakano, who held the 36-hole lead, went 70-67 on Sunday to finish third.

The Asia-Pacific Amateur will go to the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai next year.

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AP wave: https://apnews.com/hub/golf